European Union to relocate 40,000 migrants

Brussels: European Union leaders have agreed to relocate thousands of migrants, currently being sheltered in Greece and Italy, a media report said on Friday.

At talks held in the Belgian capital of Brussels late Thursday night, President of the European Council, Donald Tusk said that 40,000 people would be relocated to other EU (European Union) states over the next two years, BBC reported.

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“Leaders agreed that 40,000 persons in need will be relocated from Greece and Italy to other states over the next two years,” Tusk told reporters. Interior ministers will finalise the scheme by the end of July.

Europe is facing a growing crisis with a surge in the number of people trying to make the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean from the coast of Libya.

There has also been a sharp increase in migration from the Middle East to the eastern part of the EU via the Balkans.

In April, after hundreds of people died when a makeshift vessel sank off the Libyan coast, EU leaders pledged to come up with a long-term solution to the migration crisis.

A South Sudanese refugee and 32-year-old mother, who was raped for several days by a group of soldiers before she was allowed to leave, stands by a window at a women's center. VOA

Violence during times of war and natural disasters also affects men and boys

The EU says its mission is to strengthen awareness and encourage the humanitarian community to take stronger action to protect women, men, girls and boys in crisis zones

Monique Pariat, director-general for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, says more must be done to prevent gender-based violence from occurring in humanitarian emergencies

Geneva, June 21, 2017: The European Union is assuming the leadership of a global initiative to prevent gender-based violence during humanitarian crises.

Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. The United Nations and many human rights organizations have documented tens of thousands of cases of rape, sexual abuse and exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other places of conflict.

Violence during times of war and natural disasters also affects men and boys. So, the European Union’s Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence is inclusive of both sexes and all ages.

The EU says its mission is to strengthen awareness and encourage the humanitarian community to take stronger action to protect women, men, girls and boys in crisis zones.

Monique Pariat, director-general for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, says more must be done to prevent gender-based violence from occurring in humanitarian emergencies. She says many simple measures can be taken to mitigate violence.

“For instance, to have separate and properly illuminated toilets and washing facilities in camps. Safe access to water and food distribution points. Safe access to hospitals. That can have a very significant impact in preventing and reducing gender-based violence. We can do more also on the education to armed groups, to armies. There are a lot of activities we can promote that will reduce the risk and occurrence of these atrocities.”

Pariat says it is crucial to bring the Call to Action program to the field, adding it is there that these life-saving measures can have the biggest impact. Pariat also says preventive actions must be taken at the earliest onset of an emergency where victims and survivors are at greatest risk. (VOA)